The tourism partnership targets infrastructure, conservation and visitor safety at Mount Kenya.
The Tourism Ministry and Centum Foundation will seek US$1 million to improve trails, strengthen rescue services and support conservation around Mount Kenya.
The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife and Centum Foundation have partnered to raise US$1 million for Mount Kenya tourism. The target, approximately KSh129 million, will support infrastructure upgrades, conservation and visitor safety.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano and the foundation formalised the partnership under the five-year Friends of Mount Kenya Initiative. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) will also support the programme.
The partners aim to improve visitor experiences and expand mountain rescue services. They also want to create economic opportunities for communities living around the mountain.
Mount Kenya tourism upgrades to prioritise safety
Initial work will focus on mountain connectivity, trail marking, sanitation, emergency response and visitor information services. The programme will also support guides and porters before moving into larger infrastructure investments.
Centum Foundation will coordinate fundraising, programme delivery, governance and impact reporting. In doing so, it will work with businesses, development partners, conservation institutions and local communities.
Meanwhile, the ministry will provide policy leadership, while KWS will identify and carry out priority conservation and park management interventions. KTB will handle destination marketing and international promotion through Magical Kenya.
The partnership follows discussions with the Magical Kenya rebranding taskforce, led by MaryAnn Musangi. Those engagements examined ways to strengthen Kenya’s international tourism profile and develop the mountain’s adventure tourism potential.
Visitor growth could support jobs and businesses
Mount Kenya is Africa’s second-highest mountain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beyond tourism, it supports agriculture, energy generation, water security and livelihoods.
Its water catchment serves more than seven million people. Protecting that ecosystem therefore forms a central part of the initiative’s sustainable tourism ambitions.
The programme’s illustrative scenarios consider the potential benefits if annual visitor numbers reach 100,000. At that level, estimates suggest annual tourism spending could range from KSh4.4 billion to KSh6.6 billion.
The projections also indicate potential support for between 5,300 and 7,800 direct and indirect jobs. Government revenue could reach KSh660 million to KSh1.05 billion, alongside KSh890 million to KSh1.55 billion for small and medium-sized enterprises.
However, the partners caution that these figures represent possible long-term outcomes, not guaranteed returns. They depend on investment, market growth and further validation.
Summit and Everest expedition to support fundraising
The partners also plan an annual Friends of Mount Kenya Summit to attract funding and report progress. It will bring together stakeholders interested in developing Kenya’s mountain tourism sector.
In addition, the initiative will use Kenyan mountaineer Martin Mumo’s planned 2027 Mount Everest expedition to build international awareness. The partners hope the expedition will attract strategic partnerships and investment.
Mumo, the programme ambassador and Head of Tax at Centum Investment Company Plc, climbed Nepal’s Ama Dablam in November 2025. His Everest plan forms part of a wider ambition to climb all 14 mountains exceeding 8,000 metres worldwide.
Through these efforts, the partners seek to grow adventure tourism while strengthening conservation. They also aim to expand local businesses and ensure surrounding communities benefit from tourism development.
